Flush valves



Aug. 29, 1961 o. L. ENGsTRoM FLUSH VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8.1959 INVENTOR. Osc/:IR L. ENGsTRo/w HTTORNEY A\1g 29, 1961 o. l..ENGsTRoM 2,998,221

FLUSH VALVES Filed Jan. 8. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OscF/R L. EN@s TR 0M FITTORNEY 2,998,221 FLUSH VALVES Oscar L. Engstrom, 45-54 41stSt., Long Island City, N.Y. Filed Jan. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 785,996 7claims. (cl. 251-44) My invention relates to ush valves or ushometersand is directed particularly to improvement in flushometers or Hushvalves for wash basins, water closets, showers, urinals and otherplum-bling installations.

This invention is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No.647,326, tiled March 20, 1957, now abandoned, and it is the principalobject of this invention to provide improvements in ush valves orflushometers of the character described.

It is another object to provide a flush valve of the above nature whichis anti-syphonic in action, which has a large land unrestricted outletwaterway, and in which the path of water discharge is controlled byvalve mechanism devoid of springs, diaphragms, sliding pistons or cupdiaphragms.

Still another object is to provide a ilush valve of the characterdescribed wherein the main valve head member is loosely arranged abovethe main valve seat within the valve body, whereby it will be freelyself-seating upon closure.

Another object is to provide a ilush valve of the character describedwherein the main valve head :member is circular and at and wherein thevalve seat against which the main valve member operates is comprised ofa pair of concentric annular surfaces formed by the coextensive ends ofpipes, the center one of which extends to the outlet of the valve, theannular space between the pipes and the space above the main valve headmember communieating with the water inlet pressure, whereby thediiference in water pressure acting from below and above the main valvehead member serves to forcefully seat the valve head member against thevalve seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve structure of thecharacter described wherein the valve seat against which the `mainvalvemember operates is comprised of an annular surface formed by the upperend of a vertically arranged discharge pipe, and wherein a second pipeof greater diameter than and `coaxial with the discharge pipecommunicates at its lower end with the water inlet pressure and extendssomewhat short of the upper end of the discharge pipe to provide a.bleed passage around the valve head member, whereby the difference inwater pressure acting from below and above the main valve head memberserves to forcefully seat the valve head member against the valve seat.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve of the abovenature which is readily adjustable as to the duration of automaticushing action from the outside of the valve body.

Another object is to provide a flush valve of the character describedwhich is extremely simple in construction, which has few parts ofcomparatively low tolerance limits and therefore which is simple andinexpensive to manufacture, and which is long-wearing and positiveactingin use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form in which theinvention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the severalviews:

FIG. l is a top view of a water closet flush valve embodying theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the valve shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve shown in FIGS. land 2 taken along the lines 3-3 thereof in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the broken line4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 ofFIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows, Y

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showingthe valve in actuated condition for ushing, and,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating how the ush valve of FIGS. lthrough 6 can be used in combination with a shower head forautomatically metering washing time, in industrial washing operationsfor example.

Referring now in `detail to the drawings, my improved flush valve,designated generally by the numeral 10a, comi prises a lower housingmember 11a of cast metal having at its upper end an externally-threadedcircular wall portion 12a to which an upper dome or housing member 13ais removably secured. A circular rubber or neoprene gasket 14a serves tohermetically seal the junction between the lower and upper housingmembers 11a and 13a. The lower housing member 11a is formed at its lowerend with an externally-threaded outlet opening 15a and aninternally-threaded side inlet opening 16a (see FIGS. l and 3). Theinternally-threaded outlet opening 15a extends upwardly into a centralbore 17a, of reduced diameter, which communicates at its upper end witha coaxial bore 18a formed at its lower end with an annular shoulder 19a.The bore 18a extends upwardly into a coaxial bore 20a of still furtherincreased diameter. A cylindrical outlet conduit 21a is coaxiallysecured at its lower end within the -bore 18a in the lower housingmember 11a, the lower end of said conduit being seated against theannular shoulder 19a, whereby said conduit is in communication with theoutlet opening 15a.

The bore 20a extends at its upper end into a short coaxial bore 22a ofincreased diameter, providing an lannular shoulder 23a -at thetransition zone. Tightly iitted within the bore 22a and seated -againstthe annular shoulder 23a is the lower end of Ia cylindrical inletconduit 24a, of greater diameter than and coaxial with the outletconduit 21a. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the

upper end of the inlet conduit 24a extends slightly short of the upperend of the outlet conduit 21a, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Itwill be apparent that the water inlet opening 16a is in directcommunication with the annular space between the cylindrical outlet andinlet conduits 21a and 24a, respectively.

A main valve cap member 28a is disposed in coaxial relation with respectto the upper ends of the outlet and inlet conduits 21a* and 24a, saidvalve cap member comprising a circular disc 29a.' integrally formed witha cylindrical sleeve member 31a. The cylindrical sleeve member 31acoaxially surrounds the inlet conduit 24a in slightly spaced relation,spacing distances down to about .005 inch having been found to besatisfactory for ordinary ush duration intervals. A at, circular, rubberor neoprene washer 33a is seated against the underside of the circulardisc 29ay and secured thereat by a flat-headed machine screw 34a fittedwith a washer 35ay and secured in a central threaded opening in saidcircular disc. It is to be noted that the water inlet opening 16a is incommuni-v cation with -the interior of the upper housing member 13a evenwhen the main valve cap member 2,80:` is seated on lthe Valve seatformed by the upper annular end of the outlet conduit 21a by virtue ofthe space between the upper end of the water inlet conduit 24a and theunderside of the washer 33a `in said valve cap member, the spacingbetween the inside of the sleeve member 31a of said valve cap member andthe outside of `said water inlet conduit, and the spacing between theoutside of said sleeve member `and the inside of the wall portion 12a ofthe lower housing member 11a and the inside of said upper housing member(see FIG. 3).

The lower housing member 11a is formed, opposite the water .inletopening 16a, with a sidewardly-extending, generally cylindrical housingportion 36a having a lateral bore 38a which at its inner endcommunicates with a concentric bore 37a of decreased diameter, blind atits inner end (see FIGS. 3 through 6). The Itransition zone between thebores 37a and 38a provides an annular shoulder against which an annulargasket lila is seated and affixed. The lower housing member lla isprovided with a first pressure release passageway 41a communicatingbetween the interior of the circular wall portion 12a thereof and thebore 37a, and a second pressure release passageway 42a communicatingbetween the central bore 17a at the `outlet of said lower housing memberand the bore 38a. Fitted within the bore 38a of the housing portion 36ais a relief valve body member 44a having at its inner end an annularportion 39a firmly seated in sealing engagement against the gasket 40a.The outer end of the valve body member 44a is formed with a iiangeportion 43a closely titted within the bore 38a. The relief valve bodymember 44a is formed at its inner end with a coaxial cylindrical recess45a and has an annular groove 46a in its outer wall communicating withsaid cylindrical recess through a plurality of openings 47a. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the annular groove 46a in the relief valvebody member 44a is in register with the opening in the bore 38a formedby the second pressure release passageway 42a intersecting said bore.

A coaxial, centrally-drilled boss 49a extends from the bottom of thebore 37a in the housing portion 36a, and has Slidably disposed therein avalve control guide rod 48a. A disc valve member 501:, which may be of atough and long wearing synthetic material such as Teliom for example, issecured against the outer end of the guide rod-d8a by a flat-headedmachine screw 50a. A cornpresslon spring 51a surrounding the boss 49aand extendlng between the bottom annular surface of the bore 37a and theunderside of the disc valve member Sub normally urges said disc valve inseating engagement against the valve seat formed by the inner end of therelief valve body member 44a (see FIG. 3).

Slidably arranged in a central bore in the relief valve bodyvmember 44aand extending through an externallythreaded boss 53a formed therein isan actuating rod 52C the outer end of which is' integrally formed with aiiat button 52a. A compression sp-ring 52h is constrained between theunderside of the button 52a of the actuating rod 52e` and the base ofthe boss 49a in the valve body member 44a, and normally urges saidactuating rod Outwardly of and out of contact with the fiat-headed screw50a at .the outer end of the lguide rod 43a. A gland nut 54a holdingpacking 55a is screwed on the threaded boss 53a to prevent water leakagebetween the inside and the outside of the relief valve body member 44a.A cylinder cam` member 56a is fitted within the bore 38a of the housingportion 36a with its inner end in pressing engagement with the outer endof the relief valve body member 44a. The cylinder cam member 56a isformed about its outer periphery with an annular flange portion 57awhich seats against the outer end of the housing portion 36aV and isheld thereagainst by a screwed-on cylinder nut 58a. v A lever handle 59aextends through a central opening in the cam member 56a and is fonmed atits inner end with a conical portion 60a axially abutting the button 52aformed on the outer end of the actuating rod 52C. The conical portion60a of the lever handle 59a is formed at its outer side with an annularsurface portion which normally rests against the inner annular surfaceformed by an inwardly-hanged outer end portion 61a of. the cam cylinder56a (see FIG. 3). In operation, momentary sidewise pushing of the leverhandle 59a (see FIG. 6), will cant it against the outerend portion 61aof the cam cylinder 56a to push in the actuating rod 52C` against theforce of the compression springglg; Inward movement of the actuating-rod 52C will in turn cause its inner end to contact and then pushinupon the fiat-headed screw 50a, the disc valve 50b and the guide rod48a, against the compressional force of the spring 51a. Momentary inwardmovement of the disc valve member Stlb allows water under pressurewithin the upper housing member 13a to be instantly released through thefirst pressure release passageway 41a, the cylindrical recess 45a, theopenings 47a `and the annular groove 46a in the relief valve body member44a, and the second pressure release passageway 42a. Thus instantaneousrelease of pressure and opening of a large discharge passageway to theoutlet opening 15a will cause the valve cap member 28a to risepractically instantaneously to its full extent within the housing member13a under the force of inlet water under pressure emerging from theannular space between the outlet and inlet conduits 21a and 24a,respectively, thereby initiating flushing action through the largeunrestricted water discharge passageway afforded by the outlet conduit21a. During the liushing cycle a portion of the waterwill pass throughthe space between the outer surface of the inlet conduit 24a and theinner surface of the sleeve portion 31a of the valve cap member 28a, andaround said main valve cap member to enter the space above and graduallyagain increase the water pressure above said cap member, finally forcingit down again against the valve seat formed by the upper end of theoutlet conduit. 21a where it will become firmly seated by the time inletpipe pressure is reached above said cap member to terminate the liushingcycle. The duration of the flushing cycle, which is determined to agreat extent by the spacing between the outside of the inlet conduit 24aand the inside of the sleeve portion 31a of the valve cap member Zita,can be adjusted by controlling the upward travel extent of said valvecap member by means of an adjustment screw 62a threaded in yacountersunk central opening in the top of sai-d valve cap member. Acover cap screw 64a threads into the countersunk opening and intoabutting engagement with a washer 63a. therein, to normally cover theadjustment screw 62a and at the same time prevent leakage of the waterunder pressure within the cap member 28a.

The spacing between the shorter inlet conduit 24a and the washer 33a,when the valve cap member 28a is seated in shut-off condition asillustrated in FIG. 3, provides a continuous bleed passageway betweeninlet water under pressure and the space within the upper housing memberl3a yand above said cap member. This bleed passageway, moreover, iswidely opened and vigorously washed during each flushing cycle, and istherefore not subject to blockage by grit particles, corrosion and thelike, as are'pinhole and other continuously-restricting bleed passagescustomarily used in flush valves of the flexible diaphragm or slidingcylinder types.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the flush valve 10a can be securedVto the flush pipe P of a plumbing fixture, or to a vacuum breaker, ifrequired, by means of an outlet coupling nut 66a and circular outletgasket 66a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and"2, the lower housing member 11a isprovided in its front wall portion with a rubber bumper 67a. held inplace by a screw-on retainer cup 68a, said bumper serving as a stop fora water closet seat cover.

FIG. 7 illustrates in side elevation a flush valve 10a according to theinvention attached at its outlet to a shower head 69a and having anactuating lever 70a to the outer end of which a chain 71a is attachedfor remote actuation. The shower assembly shown in FIG. 7 is suitablefor use where relatively shortflushing cyclesrof automaticallyreproducible durations are required, such as in industrial washingoperations for example.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for thepurpose of illustration only, and that various omissions, or changes inarrangement of parts, as well as the substitutions of equivalentelements for those herein shown and described, can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as deiined in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a ilush valve, the combination comprising, a housing structurehaving a water inlet opening and a water outlet opening, a tirst conduitwithin said housing structure and communicating at one end with saidoutlet opening, a second conduit within said housing structure having agreater cross-sectional size than said first conduit and surroundingsaid first conduit, a communieating passageway between said water inletopening and the space between said tirst and second conduits, the otherend of said first conduit providing a valve seat, a valve cap memberfreely movable within said housing structure and operative to seat atone side from time to time against said valve seat and to seal otf saidother end of said first conduit, said valve cap member having aperipheral sleeve portion arranged in closely spaced surroundingrelation with respect to the outer wall of said second conduit, achamber within said housing structure at the other side of said valvecap member, said spacing between said peripheral sleeve portion ot saidcap member and said outer wall of said second conduit comprising apassageway communicating between said first and second conduits and saidchamber for by-passing to said chamber water under pressure from saidinlet opening at times when said valve cap member is seated against saidvalve seat, and means to temporarily release the pressure of water insaid chamber to allow movement of said valve cap member away from saidvalve seat for flushing action through said first conduit.

2. The invention as deiined in claim l wherein said passagewaycommunicating between said water inlet opening and said spacebetweensaid irst and second conduits extends through one end of saidsecond conduit.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressure releasemeans comprises a pressure release passageway between said chamber andsaid outlet opening and a manually controllable shut-otf valve in saidpassageway.

4. In a ush valve mechanism, the combination comprising a housingstructure having a water inlet opening and a water outlet opening, afirst cylindrical conduit arranged upright within said housing structureand communicating at its lower end with said outlet opening, a secondcylindrical conduit of greater diameter than said iirst conduit andcoaxially arranged with respect thereto within said housing structure,water passage means communicating between said water inlet opening andthe annular space between said first and second conduits, the upper endof said first cylindrical conduit providing a valve seat, a valve capmember freely movable Within said housing structure above said valveseat and adapted to seat from time to time thereagainst to seal oft' theupper end of said first conduit, said valve cap member having a tubularsleeve arranged in closely-spaced surrounding relation with respect tothe outer cylindrical wall of said second cylindrical conduit, a chamberin said housing structure above said valve cap member allowing freeaxial movement of said valve cap member with respect to said valve seatstructure, said spacing between said peripheral sleeve portion of saidcap member and said outer wall of said second conduit comprising apassageway communicating between said iirst and second conduits and saidchamber for by-passing to said chamber water under pressure from saidinlet opening at times when said valve cap member is seated against saidvalve seat, and means to temporarily release the pressure of water insaid chamber to allow movement of said valve cap member away from saidvalve seat structure for fiushing action through said Ifirst conduit.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein the upper end of saidsecond conduit extends slightly short of the upper end of said firstconduit, and wherein said valve cap member is formed with a disc-likevalve portion seatable llat against the valve seat provided by saidfirst cylindrical conduit.

6. The ilush valve mechanism as dened in claim 5, wherein said pressurerelease means comprises a pressure release passageway between saidchamber and said outlet opening and a manually controllable shut-offvalve in said passageway.

7. In a flush valve mechanism, the combination comprising a housingstructure having a water inlet opening and a Water outlet opening, afirst cylindrical conduit arranged upright within said housing structureand com municating at its lower end with said outlet opening, a secondcylindrical conduit of greater diameter than said first conduit andcoaxially arranged with respect thereto within said housing structure,water passage means communicating between said'water inlet opening andthe annular space between said rst and second conduits, the upper end ofsaid first cylindrical conduit providing a valve seat, a valve capmember freely movable Within said housing structure above said valveseat and adapted to seat from time to time thereagainst to seal ofi theupper end of said iirst conduit, said valve cap member having a tubularsleeve arranged in closely-spaced surrounding relation withv respect tothe outer cylindrical wall of said second cylindrical conduit, a chamberin said housing structure above said valve cap member allowing freeaxial movement of said valve cap member with respect to said valve seatstructure, said housing structure providing abutment means limiting saidaxial movement of said valve cap member away from said valve seatstructure to a predetermined distance, said tubular skirt being longenough that its `outer end will still surround said outer cylindricalwall of said second cylindrical conduit with a substantial portion ofthe length of said skirt when said yvalve cap member is moved to saidlimiting position, and means to temporarily release the pressure ofwater in said chamber to allow movement of said valve cap member awaylfrom said valve seat structure for flushing action through said firstconduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS767,849 Stillman l-- Aug. 16, 1904 1,005,703 Goeddel Oct. 10, 19111,813,709 Pasman July 7, 1931 2,047,120 Stout July 7, 1936 2,480,712Carbon Aug. 30, 1949

